Idaho Football Starts Spring Practices

MOSCOW, Idaho – When you have players who have been in a system for 12 months and you add an influx of talent, you have a football practice that is light years different than it was about 365 days ago.

“It’s a lot different,” said coach Paul Petrino after the University of Idaho Vandals opened spring football Sunday afternoon. “It’s a lot more of a comfort level with all the players – them understanding what’s going on; they know how we do things.”

Petrino had high praise for the effort, attitude and performance Sunday.

“It’s nice to know where we’re at and what we have,” he said. “Let’s just keep improving.”

The addition of a strong junior college class this semester has driven up the level of intensity.

“You don’t have to get on them as much about effort,” he said. “You can handle that by putting in the next guy.”

One battle that will be watching closely – as it will on my college campuses this spring, is the one at quarterback between sophomore Chad Chalich and redshirt freshman Matt Linehan. Both drew praise from Petrino.

“We’re light years ahead of last year,” he said about the position. “They’ve both been in the offense for a year. They both did some really good things.”

The Vandals return to the practice Monday at 3:30 p.m. with 4 p.m. practices set for Wednesday and Friday this week with a 10 a.m. scrimmage Saturday.

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Idaho Athletics BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Turnovers were the story on Saturday night, with Idaho falling at CSU Bakersfield, 66-55. THE GAME Idaho jumped to a quick lead in the opening minutes, taking a 14-8 lead midway through the frame. The Vandals would go cold for a long stretch from there, with Bakersfield going on a 15-0 run over the next nine minutes. Victor Sanders ended the cold stretch with a 3-ball with two minutes to play in the half, but Idaho...More >>

Idaho Athletics BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Turnovers were the story on Saturday night, with Idaho falling at CSU Bakersfield, 66-55. THE GAME Idaho jumped to a quick lead in the opening minutes, taking a 14-8 lead midway through the frame. The Vandals would go cold for a long stretch from there, with Bakersfield going on a 15-0 run over the next nine minutes. Victor Sanders ended the cold stretch with a 3-ball with two minutes to play in the half, but Idaho...More >>

by Idaho Athletics ATLANTA- Idaho's defense created four takeaways and the offense had its most prolific outing in more than a month as the Vandals closed the season with a 24-10 win Saturday, at Georgia State. Idaho (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt) shutout the Panthers (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) in the second half, allowing GSU to gain just 132 yards of total offense after intermission. Senior running back Aaron Duckworth rushed for 113 yards in his final collegiate game, cracking the 1,000-yard...More >>

by Idaho Athletics ATLANTA- Idaho's defense created four takeaways and the offense had its most prolific outing in more than a month as the Vandals closed the season with a 24-10 win Saturday, at Georgia State. Idaho (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt) shutout the Panthers (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) in the second half, allowing GSU to gain just 132 yards of total offense after intermission. Senior running back Aaron Duckworth rushed for 113 yards in his final collegiate game, cracking the 1,000-yard...More >>

Idaho found the end zone on the game’s opening drive, but Coastal Carolina accounted for the rest of the scoring as the Vandals (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt) suffered a 13-7 defeat in their home finale Saturday.

Idaho found the end zone on the game’s opening drive, but Coastal Carolina accounted for the rest of the scoring as the Vandals (3-7, 2-4 Sun Belt) suffered a 13-7 defeat in their home finale Saturday.